Readers' Forum
We are not progressing
During a recent visit to my son and his family in Los Angeles I attended the XVII North American Zoroastrian Congress (NAZC) as my 10-year-old grandson, Sarosh Mistry, was to play the violin in the World Zoroastrian Symphony Orchestra and also give a solo performance at the Congress.
I found that over the past few decades the Iranians, Europeans and North American Zoroastrians have done much to raise the level of consciousness of our religion there. One should be proud that FEZANA (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America) has been accorded the status of an NGO (nongovernmental organization) by the United Nations. The session on youth showed their achievements and what was commendable was their clarity of thought in the direction in which they were moving. Their advancement in information and digital technology enabled them to move faster towards their goal. There was even a session on causes of cancer and the benefits of a healthy vegetarian diet.
Back in India I began to wonder about the fact that when 11,000 Zoroastrians in North America could work wonders to foster the religion there, what are 60,000 Zoroastrians in India doing? We always seem to ape the West; but we are not progressing, so we blame the diehards. But who are the diehards? They are the priests and rathestars (those having knowledge and skill to protect and preserve the religion) who perform the daily rituals, recite prayers from the Avesta, wear the sudreh kusti at all times, do the kusti at least two or three times a day. For them religion is a safety valve. To expect them to change (by accepting interfaith marriages, etc) is a herculean task, but change they must and someone should guide them, especially our high priests.
There are also the pseudo intellectuals who do not want to change for reasons best known to them. However, there is a glimmer of hope. Recently a community poll has shown that 68% is in favor of reforms. That’s great, but we should move faster. On the religious side we find a number of youth visiting agiaries and learning monajats. There is humbandagi on Avan roz at the Bhikha Behram Well. Also, a vada dastur recently spoke out in favor of organ transplants by Parsis.
We must do everything to uphold our religion, but that does not mean we should be retrograde. We must change our thinking and move in the right direction.
JESSE E. MISTRY
I found that over the past few decades the Iranians, Europeans and North American Zoroastrians have done much to raise the level of consciousness of our religion there. One should be proud that FEZANA (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America) has been accorded the status of an NGO (nongovernmental organization) by the United Nations. The session on youth showed their achievements and what was commendable was their clarity of thought in the direction in which they were moving. Their advancement in information and digital technology enabled them to move faster towards their goal. There was even a session on causes of cancer and the benefits of a healthy vegetarian diet.
Back in India I began to wonder about the fact that when 11,000 Zoroastrians in North America could work wonders to foster the religion there, what are 60,000 Zoroastrians in India doing? We always seem to ape the West; but we are not progressing, so we blame the diehards. But who are the diehards? They are the priests and rathestars (those having knowledge and skill to protect and preserve the religion) who perform the daily rituals, recite prayers from the Avesta, wear the sudreh kusti at all times, do the kusti at least two or three times a day. For them religion is a safety valve. To expect them to change (by accepting interfaith marriages, etc) is a herculean task, but change they must and someone should guide them, especially our high priests.
There are also the pseudo intellectuals who do not want to change for reasons best known to them. However, there is a glimmer of hope. Recently a community poll has shown that 68% is in favor of reforms. That’s great, but we should move faster. On the religious side we find a number of youth visiting agiaries and learning monajats. There is humbandagi on Avan roz at the Bhikha Behram Well. Also, a vada dastur recently spoke out in favor of organ transplants by Parsis.
We must do everything to uphold our religion, but that does not mean we should be retrograde. We must change our thinking and move in the right direction.
JESSE E. MISTRY
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